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charliebrown84
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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 Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 3:54 pm Post subject: Teaching in China |
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I've been thinking about what I want to do in the near future as far as location is concerned. I've been considering Japan, China, or Taiwan as possible choices. I know Japan is a bit too expensive for me at this time, so my next best option is China.
Just wondering if anyone has any advice or experience trying to get a job there and actually working there. I plan on staying in Korea at least another year, so take the two years of teaching experience I would have into consideration when making your reply. Any help would be appreciated. Smile |
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Gamecock
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
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| Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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I spent 5 years in Korea before making the jump to China and I couldn't be happier- I now regret it took me so long to bail on Korea.
China is MUCH more welcoming to foreigners and a much more interesting and fun place. My quality of life has massively improved. You should keep in mind that you will make considerably less in China, but the apartments are generally much bigger and the cost of living lower. Living well and traveling (which is usually much cheaper getting out of China compared to Korea), I save about half of the amount I saved in Korea. It's not a good place if you have debt to pay off. But for me, the quality of life here is worth making less.
Most people I know who have secured good jobs in China have taken a hogwan-like job or a university job over the internet (which is often not so great), then found something better through connections or word-of-mouth within 6 months to a year. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 11:00 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching in China |
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| charliebrown84 wrote: |
| I've been thinking about what I want to do in the near future as far as location is concerned. I've been considering Japan, China, or Taiwan as possible choices. I know Japan is a bit too expensive for me at this time, so my next best option is China. |
Dude, Japan's exchange rate is great right now. You can save quite a bit while working there. Almost as much or as much as Korea. |
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Ralphie
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Location: Beijing, PRC
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| Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 2:42 am Post subject: |
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| If you go to China, work for Korean schools/academy. The salaries tend to be higher than if you were to work at a Chinese school/academy. |
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charliebrown84
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 3:46 am Post subject: Re: Teaching in China |
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| Gamecock wrote: |
| You should keep in mind that you will make considerably less in China, but the apartments are generally much bigger and the cost of living lower. |
I do have a private student loan that I am require to pay come hell or high water, so that also has to be added into the equation. What kind of pay scale can I expect to find when I start looking?
| World Traveler wrote: |
Dude, Japan's exchange rate is great right now. You can save quite a bit while working there. Almost as much or as much as Korea. |
I was thinking of Japan for that reason, but then I checked the pay scales and asked a Japanese friend about how well I can live off of said pay. His response wasn't hopeful. If I'm mistaken, please tell me so.
| Ralphie wrote: |
| If you go to China, work for Korean schools/academy. The salaries tend to be higher than if you were to work at a Chinese school/academy. |
Hmm, I've never heard of that. How would I go about looking for that sort of job? Do you know of any recruiter who works with Korean schools in China? |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 4:38 am Post subject: |
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Pay:
Japan: $3000 a month
South Korea: $1800 a month
If you live frugally in Japan, you can save more than in Korea. If you are partying heavily in Tokyo, however, you can not.
You can save money in Japan. Absolutely. It is a myth that you cannot. |
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charliebrown84
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 4:46 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
Pay:
Japan: $3000 a month
South Korea: $1800 a month
If you live frugally in Japan, you can save more than in Korea. If you are partying heavily in Tokyo, however, you can not.
You can save money in Japan. Absolutely. It is a myth that you cannot. |
I do like the sound of those numbers. What can I expect to take home after expenses such as electric/cable bills and other necessities? |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 5:08 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
Pay:
Japan: $3000 a month
South Korea: $1800 a month
If you live frugally in Japan, you can save more than in Korea. If you are partying heavily in Tokyo, however, you can not.
You can save money in Japan. Absolutely. It is a myth that you cannot. |
QFT. however, you do pay your own rent in Japan...typically around $500-$600, at least that's what I paid for a small [but easily double, near triple, the size of anything i've had in korea] 2 bedroom apt in suburban Osaka. Still, you are making a few hundred USD more a month in Japan, and no, it's not that much more expensive to live there. The only bill I saw a significant increase in was electricity for the heater in Winter - Japanese buildings are cold as hell, and it doesn't get anywhere near as cold as Seoul!
The problem is people are still getting their numbers from like 2005 when things were a lot different. What's it gonna be in 5 more years? who knows, but that's how it is now.
Like Korea, the amount I saved depended on how much I went out. Typically over $1000, but my job paid slightly higher than the industry average (290,000 yen/month). Knew a guy who barely worked at some kindergarten and adult eikaiwa and was pulling in 320,000 though... |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 6:24 am Post subject: |
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| nukeday wrote: |
| Knew a guy who barely worked at some kindergarten and adult eikaiwa and was pulling in 320,000 |
$3,460.96 USD for barely working. Korea apologists, tell me how you cannot save money on that salary. When people think the money is better in Korea, that is because they heard a story from two years ago when the situations in both countries were very different from what they are now. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| nukeday wrote: |
| Knew a guy who barely worked at some kindergarten and adult eikaiwa and was pulling in 320,000 |
$3,460.96 USD for barely working. Korea apologists, tell me how you cannot save money on that salary. |
People who barely work tend to get fired, not make (roughly) 3500 USD a month. |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| nukeday wrote: |
| Knew a guy who barely worked at some kindergarten and adult eikaiwa and was pulling in 320,000 |
$3,460.96 USD for barely working. Korea apologists, tell me how you cannot save money on that salary. When people think the money is better in Korea, that is because they heard a story from two years ago when the situations in both countries were very different from what they are now. |
I'm no apologist, but I don't like stories like these, I knew of a guy, a friend's friend was making such and such amount.
Have you been to Japan? It certainly ain't cheap. In Korea, I simply don't have to worry about money, it gets shovelled into my account, I doubt most people can do the same living in Japan that's even if you can get a job there these days. But don't let me put you off, go for it.
As for China, well I've never been so I won't comment but apart from the odd person on the Korea branch, reading the China branch it doesn't seem so rosy. |
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